Method for processing enhanced physical downlink control channel, network-side device, and user equipment

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for processing an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH), a network-side device, and a user equipment. The method includes: notifying a user equipment (UE) of M physical resource block (PRB) sets used for EPDCCH transmission and N reference signal (RS) configurations used for EPDCCH downlink control information (DCI) rate matching and/or EPDCCH resource mapping, and notifying the UE of correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, where N is a positive integer greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; and performing the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping according to the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2012/083774, filed on Oct. 30, 2012, which is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of radiocommunications, and in particular, to a method for processing anenhanced physical downlink control channel, a network-side device, and auser equipment.

BACKGROUND

In a long term evolution (LTE) system, a physical downlink controlchannel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) adopt atime division multiplexing manner in a subframe. An enhanced physicaldownlink control channel (EPDCCH) is introduced in LTE Rel-11. Differentfrom the PDCCH, a time frequency resource that transmits the EPDCCH in asubframe is in a data area, and the EPDCCH and the PDSCH adopt afrequency division multiplexing (FDM) manner.

When the EPDCCH is transmitted on a physical resource block (PRB) or aPRB pair of a subframe, some positions therein might be used to transmita reference signal (RS), such as a cell-specific reference signal (CRS),a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), or a channel state informationreference signal (CSI-RS). Therefore, it is required to consider that aresource element (RE,) corresponding to the RS in a resource areaallocated to the EPDCCH cannot be used for EPDCCH transmission, acorresponding encoded output bit needs to adapt a resource availableafter the RE corresponding to the RS is removed, and meanwhile, theencoded output after modulation is not mapped on the RE, but on aresource other than the RE. Such an adaptation process is called EPDCCHdownlink control information (DCI) rate matching and/or EPDCCH resourcemapping. In other words, corresponding adaptation and mapping should beperformed on the encoded output bit (after modulation) according to abit (which is modulated as a symbol) that can be borne by a resourcecorresponding to the encoded output bit and a corresponding resourceposition. In contrast to the rate matching, when a CRS or a CSI-RS istransmitted on a resource allocated to the EPDCCH, the encoded outputdoes not change correspondingly, and puncturing (puncturing) isperformed on a symbol of the EPDCCH on a corresponding RE duringresource mapping.

A coordinated multi-point (COMP) transmission technology is introducedin LTE Rel-11, where a main technology therein is a dynamic pointselection (DPS) technology. For example, in a heterogeneous network(HetNet), a micro base station is deployed in a hotspot area in coverageof a macro base station, and the macro base station and the micro basestation have the same or different cell identifiers (cell ID). A userequipment (UE) at the edge of the micro base station may dynamicallyselect, according to channel quality, a network node between the macrobase station and a neighboring micro base station for transmitting dataor control signaling. A candidate network node that can be dynamicallyselected by a UE to transmit data or control signaling is called a DPSnetwork node, which may include network nodes of a limited number, forexample, three network nodes. These network nodes may have the same ordifferent cell IDs.

The following scenario is considered: A size of a CoMP measurement setis 3; the CoMP measurement set includes one macro base station and twomicro base stations which have different cell IDs: cell ID n, cell IDn+1, and cell ID n+2; and, offsets of CRSs corresponding to the threebase stations sequentially differ by one subcarrier in a frequencydomain. In the prior art, a UE at the edge of a micro base station doesnot dynamically select a node for receiving an EPDCCH, but receives theEPDCCH from a base station (for example, a macro base station) of aserving cell of the UE all the time. Correspondingly, correspondingEPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or EPDCCH resource mapping is performedonly on an RS of the macro base station, or corresponding resourcemapping is performed only on the RS of the macro base station, wherepuncturing is performed when the EPDCCH is transmitted on the position.Therefore, by adopting the prior art, a network node cannot be flexiblyselected for EPDCCH transmission.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for processing anenhanced physical downlink control channel, a network-side device, and auser equipment, which improve flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

In a first aspect, a method for processing an enhanced physical downlinkcontrol channel is provided and includes: notifying a UE of M PRB setsused for EPDCCH transmission and N RS configurations used for EPDCCH DCIrate matching and/or EPDCCH resource mapping, and notifying the UE ofcorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, whereN is a positive integer greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; andperforming the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resourcemapping according to the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the NRS configurations.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the performing the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCHresource mapping according to the correspondence between the M PRE setsand the N RS configurations includes: determining at least one RSconfiguration of the N RS configurations; and performing the EPDCCH DCIrate matching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping according to the atleast one RS configuration and a PRE set corresponding to the at leastone RS configuration.

With reference to the first aspect and the first possible implementationmanner of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner,the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurationsincludes that the M PRB sets correspond to the N RS configurations in aone-to-one manner.

With reference to the first aspect and the first possible implementationmanner of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner,the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurationsincludes that at least one PRB set of the M PRB sets corresponds to atleast two RS configurations of the N RS configurations.

With reference to the third possible implementation manner of the firstaspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, first indicationsignaling is sent to the UE, where the first indication signaling isused to indicate a first RS configuration that corresponds to each PRBset of the at least one PRB set and is used for the EPDCCH DCI ratematching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping.

With reference to the first or second or third or fourth possibleimplementation manner of the first aspect, in a fifth possibleimplementation manner, the N RS configurations correspond to N differentcells or network nodes respectively, and the determining the at leastone RS configuration of the N RS configurations includes: selecting theat least one RS configuration according to one or more of channelquality, network load, and spectrum efficiency of the N different cellsor network nodes corresponding to the N RS configurations.

With reference to the first aspect and any one of the first to fifthpossible implementation manners of the first aspect, in a sixth possibleimplementation manner, the N RS configurations correspond to N differentserving cells respectively, and the N different serving cells have asame carrier frequency and different cell identifiers.

With reference to the first aspect and any one of the first to sixthpossible implementation manners of the first aspect, in a seventhpossible implementation manner, each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes one or more of the following: a cell identifier,an RS configuration index, a CRS configuration, a non-zero power (NZP)CSI-RS configuration, a zero power (ZP) CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCHstart time, a multimedia broadcast multicast service single frequencynetwork (MBSFN) subframe configuration, and a carrier index.

With reference to the first aspect and any one of the first to seventhpossible implementation manners of the first aspect, in an eighthpossible implementation manner, the notifying the UE of correspondencebetween the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations includes: when eachPRB set of the M PRB sets includes a PRB set index, and each RSconfiguration of the N RS configurations includes an RS configurationindex, sending to the UE, second indication signaling which is used toindicate the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations, where the second indication signaling includes the PRBset index of each PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RS configurationindex corresponding to the PRB set index of each PRB set of the M PRBsets; or when each PRB set of the M PRB sets includes a PRB set index,sending to the UE, second indication signaling which is used to indicatethe correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations,where the second indication signaling includes the PRB set index of eachPRB set of the M PRB sets and an RS configuration corresponding to thePRB set index of each PRB set of the M PRB sets.

With reference to the first aspect and any one of the first to eighthpossible implementation manners of the first aspect, in a ninth possibleimplementation manner, PRB sets of the M PRB sets may include the samePRB, and when PRBs included in two PRB sets of the M PRB sets arecompletely the same, the two PRB sets are one PRB set.

In a second aspect, a method for processing an enhanced physicaldownlink control channel EPDCCH is provided and includes: acquiring,from a network-side device, M physical resource block PRB sets used forEPDCCH transmission, N reference signal RS configurations used forEPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or EPDCCH resource mapping, andcorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, whereN is a positive integer greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; andperforming EPDCCH detection on the M PRB sets respectively according toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RS configuration corresponding toeach PRB set.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, before the performing EPDCCH detection on the M PRB setsrespectively according to each PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RSconfiguration corresponding to each PRB set, the method furtherincludes: performing quasi colocation (QCL, Quasi CoLocation) hypothesison each PRB set of the M PRB sets.

With reference to the second aspect and the first possibleimplementation manner of the second aspect, in a second possibleimplementation manner, the correspondence between the M PRB sets and theN RS configurations includes that the M PRB sets correspond to the N RSconfigurations in a one-to-one manner.

With reference to the second possible implementation manner of thesecond aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the performingQCL hypothesis on each PRB set of the M PRB sets includes: performingthe QCL hypothesis according to the RS configuration corresponding toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets.

With reference to the second or third possible implementation manner ofthe second aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurationsincludes that at least one PRB set of the M PRB sets corresponds to atleast two RS configurations of the N RS configurations.

With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of thesecond aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner, the performingQCL hypothesis on each PRB set of the M PRB sets includes: performingthe QCL hypothesis according to the RS configuration corresponding toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets, or performing the QCL hypothesisaccording to the RS configuration that corresponds to each PRB set ofthe M PRB sets and is used for EPDCCH resource demapping, or performingthe QCL hypothesis according to the RS configuration that corresponds toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets and is used for the EPDCCH detection.

With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of thesecond aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner, before theperforming EPDCCH detection on the M PRB sets respectively according toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RS configuration corresponding toeach PRB set, the method further includes: receiving first indicationsignaling that is sent by the network-side device and used to indicatethe RS configuration corresponding to the at least one PRB set; and theperforming EPDCCH detection on the M PRB sets respectively according toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RS configuration corresponding toeach PRB set includes: when the at least one PRB set is detected,performing the EPDCCH detection on the at least one PRB set according tothe RS configuration indicated by the first indication signaling.

With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of thesecond aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner, theperforming EPDCCH detection on the M PRB sets respectively according toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RS configuration corresponding toeach PRB set includes: when the at least one PRB set is detected,performing the EPDCCH detection on the at least one PRB set respectivelyaccording to the at least two RS configurations corresponding to the atleast one PRB set.

With reference to any one of the first to seventh possibleimplementation manners of the second aspect, in an eighth possibleimplementation manner, each RS configuration of the NRS configurationsincludes one or more of the following: a cell identifier, an RSconfiguration index, a CRS configuration, an NZP CSI-RS configuration, aZP CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, an MBSFN subframeconfiguration, and a carrier index.

With reference to any one of the first to eighth possible implementationmanners of the second aspect, in a ninth possible implementation manner,the N RS configurations correspond to N different serving cellsrespectively, and the N different serving cells have a same carrierfrequency and different cell identifiers.

With reference to any one of the first to ninth possible implementationmanners of the second aspect, in a tenth possible implementation manner,PRB sets of the M PRB sets may include the same PRB, and when PRBsincluded in two PRB sets of the MPRB sets are completely the same, thetwo PRB sets are one PRB set.

In a third aspect, a network-side device is provided and includes: anotifying unit, configured to notify a UE of M PRB sets used for EPDCCHtransmission and N RS configurations used for EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or EPDCCH resource mapping, and notify the UE of correspondencebetween the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, where N is apositive integer greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; and amapping unit, configured to perform the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/orthe EPDCCH resource mapping according to the correspondence between theM PRB sets and the N RS configurations.

With reference to the third aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the network-side device further includes: a determining unit,configured to determine at least one RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations, where the mapping unit is specifically configured toperform the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resource mappingaccording to the at least one RS configuration and a PRB setcorresponding to the at least one RS configuration.

With reference to the third aspect and the first possible implementationmanner of the third aspect, in a second possible implementation manner,the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurationsincludes that the M PRB sets correspond to the N RS configurations in aone-to-one manner.

With reference to the third aspect and the first or second possibleimplementation manner of the third aspect, in a third possibleimplementation manner, the correspondence between the M PRB sets and theN RS configurations includes that at least one PRB set of the M PRB setscorresponds to at least two RS configurations of the N RSconfigurations.

With reference to the third possible implementation manner of the thirdaspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, the network-sidedevice further includes: a sending unit, configured to send firstindication signaling to the UE, where the first indication signaling isused to indicate a first RS configuration that corresponds to each PRBset of the at least one PRB set and is used for the EPDCCH DCI ratematching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping.

With reference to any one of the first to fourth possible implementationmanners of the third aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner,the N RS configurations correspond to N different cells or network nodesrespectively, and the determining unit is specifically configured to:select the at least one RS configuration according to one or more ofchannel quality, network load, and spectrum efficiency of the Ndifferent cells or network nodes corresponding to the N RSconfigurations.

With reference to the third aspect and any one of the first to fifthpossible implementation manners of the third aspect, in a sixth possibleimplementation manner, the N RS configurations correspond to N differentserving cells respectively, and the N different serving cells have asame carrier frequency and different cell identifiers.

With reference to the third aspect and any one of the first to sixthpossible implementation manners of the third aspect, in a seventhpossible implementation manner, each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes one or more of the following: a cell identifier,an RS configuration index, a CRS configuration, an NZP CSIRSconfiguration, a ZP CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, an MBSFNsubframe configuration, and a carrier frequency index.

With reference to the third aspect and any one of the first to seventhpossible implementation manners of the third aspect, in an eighthpossible implementation manner, when each PRB set of the M PRB setsincludes a PRB set index, and each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes an RS configuration index, the notifying unit isspecifically configured to send to the UE, second indication signalingwhich is used to indicate the correspondence between the M PRB sets andthe N RS configurations, where the second indication signaling includesan index identifier of the M PRB sets and an index identifier of the NRS configurations corresponding to the index identifier of the M PRBsets; or when each PRB set of the M PRB sets includes a PRB set index,the notifying unit is specifically configured to send to the UE, secondindication signaling which is used to indicate the correspondencebetween the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, where the secondindication signaling includes an index identifier of the M PRB sets andthe N RS configurations corresponding to the index identifier of the MPRB sets.

With reference to the third aspect and any one of the first to eighthpossible implementation manners of the third aspect, in a ninth possibleimplementation manner, PRB sets of the M PRB sets may include the samePRB, and when PRBs included in two PRB sets of the M PRB sets arecompletely the same, the two PRB sets are one PRB set.

In a fourth aspect, a user equipment is provided and includes: anacquiring unit, configured to acquire, from a network-side device, Mphysical resource block PRB sets used for EPDCCH transmission, Nreference signal RS configurations used for EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or EPDCCH resource mapping, and correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations, where N is a positive integer greaterthan 1, and M is a positive integer; and a processing unit, configuredto perform EPDCCH detection on the M PRB sets respectively according toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RS configuration corresponding toeach PRB set.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the processing unit is further configured to perform QCLhypothesis on each PRB set of the M PRB sets.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the first possibleimplementation manner of the fourth aspect, in a second possibleimplementation manner, the correspondence between the M PRB sets and theN RS configurations includes that the M PRB sets correspond to the N RSconfigurations in a one-to-one manner.

With reference to the second possible implementation manner of thefourth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the processingunit is specifically configured to perform QCL hypothesis according toan RS configuration corresponding to each PRB set of the M PRB sets.

With reference to the second or third possible implementation manner ofthe fourth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurationsincludes that at least one PRB set of the M PRB sets corresponds to atleast two RS configurations of the N RS configurations.

With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of thefourth aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner, the processingunit is specifically configured to perform the QCL hypothesis accordingto the RS configuration corresponding to each PRB set of the M PRB sets,or perform the QCL hypothesis according to an RS configuration thatcorresponds to each PRB set of the M PRB sets and is used for EPDCCHresource demapping, or perform the QCL hypothesis according to an RSconfiguration that corresponds to each PRB set of the M PRB sets and isused for the EPDCCH detection.

With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of thefourth aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner, the userequipment further includes: a receiving unit, configured to receivefirst indication signaling that is sent by the network-side device andis used to indicate the RS configuration corresponding to the at leastone PRB set, where the processing unit is specifically configured to:when the at least one PRB set is detected, perform the EPDCCH detectionon the at least one PRB set according to the RS configuration indicatedby the first indication signaling.

With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of thefourth aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner, theprocessing unit is specifically configured to: when the at least one PRBset is detected, perform the EPDCCH detection on the at least one PRBset respectively according to the at least two RS configurationscorresponding to the at least one PRB set.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the first to seventh possibleimplementation manners of the fourth aspect, in an eighth possibleimplementation manner, each RS configuration of the N RS configurationsincludes one or more of the following: a cell identifier, an RSconfiguration index, a CRS configuration, an NZP CSIRS configuration, aZP CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, an MBSFN subframeconfiguration, and a carrier index.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the first to eighth possibleimplementation manners of the fourth aspect, in a ninth possibleimplementation manner, the N RS configurations correspond to N differentserving cells respectively, and the N different serving cells have asame carrier frequency and different cell identifiers.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the first to ninth possibleimplementation manners of the fourth aspect, in a tenth possibleimplementation manner, PRB sets of the M PRB sets may include the samePRB, and when PRBs included in two PRB sets of the M PRB sets arecompletely the same, the two PRB sets are one PRB set.

In the embodiments of the present invention, a network-side deviceconfigures a PRB set and multiple RS configurations corresponding todifferent cells or network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRE set, theRS configurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions according to the embodiments of thepresent invention more clearly, the following briefly introducesaccompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments of thepresent invention. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in thefollowing description show merely some embodiments of the presentinvention, and persons of ordinary skill in the art may still deriveother drawings according to these accompanying drawings without creativeefforts.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCH according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCH according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a network-side device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a user equipment according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a network-side device according to anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a user equipment according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following clearly describes the technical solutions in theembodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, theembodiments to be described are merely a part of rather than all of theembodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained bypersons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of thepresent invention without creative efforts shall fall within theprotection scope of the present invention.

The technical solutions of the present invention can be applied tovarious communications systems, such as a global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), a code division multiple access (CDMA) system,wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), general packet radioservice (GPRS), and long term evolution (LTE).

A user equipment may also be referred to as a mobile terminal or amobile user equipment, which can communicate with one or more corenetworks through a radio access network (for example, RAN, Radio AccessNetwork). The user equipment may be a mobile terminal, such as a mobilephone (or be referred to as a “cellular” phone) and a computer having amobile terminal, for example, a portable, pocket-sized, hand-held,computer built-in, or vehicle-mounted mobile apparatus, which exchangesvoice and/or data with the radio access network.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCH according toan embodiment of the present invention. The method in FIG. 1 is executedby a network-side device. The network-side device may be a node deviceor a part of the node device which is on a network side and canimplement the embodiment of the present invention. For example, when thenetwork-side device is located in an LTE system, the network-side devicemay be an evolved base station (eNB, evolved Node B) or an evolveduniversal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN, Evolved UniversalTerrestrial Radio Access Network); when the network-side device islocated in a WCDMA system, the network-side device may be a radionetwork controller (RNC) or an evolved universal terrestrial radioaccess network (UTRAN).

101: Notify a UE of M PRB sets used for EPDCCH transmission and N RSconfigurations used for EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or EPDCCH resourcemapping, and notify the UE of correspondence between the M PRB sets andthe N RS configurations, where N is a positive integer greater than 1,and M is a positive integer.

102: Perform the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resourcemapping according to the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the NRS configurations.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the network side configuresa PRB set and multiple RS configurations corresponding to differentcells or network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB set, the RSconfigurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

In step 101, a notification manner and sequence for the N RSconfigurations, the M PRB sets, and the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations are not limited in the embodiment ofthe present invention. Simultaneous notification may be adopted, forexample, the M PRB sets, the N RS configurations, and the correspondencebetween the PRB sets and the RS configurations may be carried in onemessage; or separate notification may also be adopted, for example, theM PRB sets, the N RS configurations, and the correspondence between thePRB sets and the RS configurations may be carried in different messages;or a combination of the above two manners may also be adopted, forexample, the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations may be carried inone message, and the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations may be carried in another message. When the separatenotification manner is adopted, the notification sequence for the N RSconfigurations, the M PRB sets, and the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the NRS configurations is not limited in the embodiment of thepresent invention.

Optionally, as an embodiment, in step 101, a notification may be sent tothe UE through RRC (Radio Resource Control, radio resource control)signaling, such as an RRC connection reestablishment message, or mayalso be sent to the UE through medium access control layer (MAC, MediumAccess Control) signaling. However, a specific form of the message thatcarries the RS configurations, the PRB sets, and the correspondencebetween them is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention,which, for example, may be newly-added dedicated signaling or anotherexisting signaling that is reused.

It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present invention, aprocess of the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resourcemapping is as follows: An EPDCCH is transmitted through aggregation ofone or more enhanced control channel elements (ECCE, Enhanced ControlChannel Element), where the number of the ECCEs may be 1, 2, 4, 8, 16,or 32. Each ECCE is composed of multiple enhanced resource elementgroups (EREG, Enhanced Resource Element Group), for example, 4 or 8. TheEREGs correspond to physical resources. The physical resources may becontinuous or discrete. When an RS is located on a subframe for EPDCCHtransmission, the physical resources of the EREGs include RS resources.However, when the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resourcemapping is performed, corresponding RS resources should be bypassed orexcluded. The EPDCCH DCI rate matching may also be called rate matchingof the DCI transmitted by the EPDCCH or rate matching of the DCI borneby the EPDCCH, and may be classified into EPDCCH DCI processing, andEPDCCH rate matching may be classified into EPDCCH processing. The DCIof the EPDCCH is transmitted on the EPDCCH. In addition, it should benoted that in the embodiment of the present invention, the EPDCCHprocessing includes the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCHresource mapping.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRB setsand the NRS configurations may be one-to-one correspondence, where M isequal to N in this case; may also be one-to-many correspondence, forexample, one PRB set corresponds to multiple RS configurations; or mayalso be any combination of the foregoing two types of correspondence,for example, M is equal to 2, N is equal to 2, two PRB sets are PRB set1 and PRB set 2 respectively, two RS configurations are RS configuration1 and RS configuration 2 respectively, and the correspondence betweenthem is that PRB set 1 corresponds to both RS configuration 1 and RSconfiguration 2, and PRB set 2 corresponds to RS configuration 1. Aspecific form of the correspondence is not limited in the embodiment ofthe present invention.

Optionally, the N RS configurations may correspond to N cells or networknodes. For example, in a HetNet, two micro base stations are deployed ina hotspot area in coverage of a macro base station, a network-sidedevice notifies a UE of an RS configuration of the macro base station,and also notifies the UE of RS configurations of the two micro basestations, that is, N is equal to 3. When the macro base station and themicro base stations have different cell identifiers, it may beconsidered that the three RS configurations correspond to three cellsrespectively, or the three RS configurations correspond to three networknodes respectively. When the macro base station and the micro basestations have the same cell identifier, it may be considered that the NRS configurations correspond to the macro base station and the two microbase stations respectively, that is, three network nodes in total.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the RS configuration may include oneor more of: a CRS configuration, an NZP CSI-RS configuration, and a ZPCSI-RS configuration. In addition, the RS configuration may also includeone or more of: a cell identifier, an RS configuration index, an EPDCCHstart orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM, OrthogonalFrequency Division Multplexing) symbol, an MBSFN subframe configuration,a carrier frequency index, and an interference measurement resource(IMR, Interference Measurement Resource) CSI-RS. The element included inthe RS configuration is not specifically limited in the presentinvention. For example, the RS configuration may be composed of thefollowing elements: a cell identifier, an NZP CSI-RS configuration, a ZPCSI-RS configuration, the number of CRS antenna ports, and an MBSFNsubframe configuration, where the number of CRS antenna ports may be 1,2, or 4. The RS configuration may also be composed of the followingelements: a ZP CSI-RS configuration, the number of CRS antenna ports, aCRS frequency domain offset, and an MBSFN subframe configuration. The RSconfiguration may also be composed of the following elements: a ZPCSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, the number of CRS antennaports, a CRS frequency domain offset, and an MBSFN subframeconfiguration.

In addition, the elements of the RS configuration may be determinedaccording to whether the UE is served by a new carrier (NCT, New CarrierType). When the UE is served by the NCT, and the NCT does not have aPDCCH and has only a CRS antenna port with a period of 5 ms, the RSconfiguration may be composed of the following elements: cellidentifier, CSI-RS configuration, and/or subframe that transmits a CRS;and the RS configuration may also be composed of the following elements:CSI-RS configuration, CRS frequency domain offset, and/or subframe thattransmits a CRS. In addition, the RS configuration may also be referredto as a resource mapping parameter.

Optionally, as another embodiment, before the EPDCCH DCI rate matchingor the EPDCCH resource mapping is performed according to thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, atleast one RS configuration of the N RS configurations may be furtherdetermined. In this case, in step 102, the EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or the EPDCCH resource mapping may be performed according to the atleast one RS configuration and a PRB set corresponding to the at leastone RS configuration.

A manner for determining the at least one RS configuration is notlimited in the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the atleast one RS configuration may be determined according to channelquality, network load, or spectrum efficiency of a cell or network nodecorresponding to each RS configuration of the N RS configurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the network-side device may determineone RS configuration used for the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or theEPDCCH resource mapping, and may also determine multiple RSconfigurations for the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCHresource mapping. The number of the RS configurations used for theEPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping is notlimited in the embodiment of the present invention. For example, both afirst RS configuration and a second RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations may be determined, and then the EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or the EPDCCH resource mapping is performed on a PRB setcorresponding to the first RS configuration and the second RSconfiguration.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that the M PRB sets correspondto the N RS configurations in a one-to-one manner. In this case, M isequal to N. For example, M is equal to 2, N is equal to 2, PRB set 1corresponds to RS configuration 1, and PRB set 2 corresponds to RSconfiguration 2.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that at least one PRB set ofthe M PRB sets corresponds to at least two RS configurations of the N RSconfigurations. For example, M is equal to 1, N is equal to 2, and PRBset 1 corresponds to both RS configuration 1 and RS configuration 2 oftwo RS configurations; or, M is equal to 2, N is equal to 2, and bothPRB set 1 and PRB set 2 correspond to both RS configuration 1 and RSconfiguration 2.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations may also be a combination of theforegoing two types of correspondence. For example, M is equal to 2, Nis equal to 2, PRB set 1 of two PRB sets corresponds to RS configuration1 and RS configuration 2 of two RS configurations, and PRB set 2 of thetwo PRB sets corresponds to RS configuration 1 of the two RSconfigurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, in the method of FIG. 1, firstindication signaling may be further sent to the UE, where the firstindication signaling is used to indicate the RS configurationcorresponding to the at least one PRB set. For example, PRB set 1corresponds to both RS configuration 1 and RS configuration 2; in thiscase, the first indication signaling is sent to the UE, where the firstindication signaling is used to instruct the UE that the EPDCCH DCI ratematching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping is performed on PRB set 1 byusing RS configuration 1.

A specific form of the first indication signaling is not limited in theembodiment of the present invention, which, for example, may be RRCsignaling or MAC signaling, or may also be dynamic signaling or physicallayer signaling, such as enhanced physical control format indicatorchannel (EPCFICH, Enhanced Physical Control Format Indicator Channel)indication signaling.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the N RS configurations correspond toN different cells or network nodes respectively. When the at least oneRS configuration of the NRS configurations is determined, the at leastone RS configuration may be selected according to one or more of channelquality, network load, spectrum efficiency, fairness, and interferencelevels of the N different cells or network nodes corresponding to the NRS configurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the N RS configurations correspond toN different serving cells respectively, and the N different servingcells have a same carrier frequency and different cell identifiers.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the network-side device may configuredifferent cells that have a same carrier frequency and different cellidentifiers as serving cells, and the N RS configurations may correspondto RS configurations of N serving cells respectively. It should be notedthat the network-side device may also configure only one serving cellfor the UE, this serving cell includes N RS configurations, and the N RSconfigurations correspond to another cell or network node.

Optionally, as another embodiment, each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes one or more of the following: a cell identifier,an RS configuration index, a CRS configuration, an NZP CSIRSconfiguration, a ZP CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, an MBSFNsubframe configuration, and a carrier frequency index.

Optionally, as another embodiment, in step 101, when each PRB set of theM PRB sets includes a PRB set index, and each RS configuration of the NRS configurations includes an RS configuration index, second indicationsignaling which is used to indicate the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations may be sent to the UE, where the secondindication signaling includes the PRB set index of each PRB set of the MPRB sets and an RS configuration index corresponding to the PRB setindex of each PRB set of the M PRB sets; or when each PRB set of the MPRB sets includes a PRB set index, second indication signaling which isused to indicate the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations may be sent to the UE, where the second indicationsignaling includes the PRB set index of each PRB set of the M PRB setsand an RS configuration corresponding to the PRB set index of each PRBset of the M PRB sets.

A manner for the network-side device to determine the M PRB sets, the NRS configurations, and the correspondence between the M PRB sets and theN RS configurations is not limited in the embodiment of the presentinvention. In addition, the RS configuration is a set of factorsaffecting the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resourcemapping. It may be a independently defined information element, such asa dedicatedly defined RS configuration information element; or may be alogical concept indicating that these factors are included, for example,correspondence between one PRB set and multiple RSs may be directlyestablished, and among the multiple RSs, RSs that belong to the samecell or network node are taken as a logical RS configuration.Correspondingly, the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations may be determined through an association informationelement, and content of the association information element differs withRS configurations.

If the RS configuration is an independently defined information element,an implementation manner of the M PRB sets, the N RS configurations, andthe correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations isshown as follow.

First, a PRB set configuration, such as pseudo code 1 in the following,is defined for each PRB set of the M PRB sets.

Pseudo Code 1:

  -- ASN1START   --M ePDCCH PRB set configurations   -- ePDCCH PRBresource block releasing   epdcch-Resource-ToReleaseList Epdcch-Resource-ToReleaseList   --ePDCCH PRB resource block modifyingand adding   epdcch-Resource-ToAddModList  Epdcch-Resource-ToAddModList  Epdcch-Resource-ToReleaseList : := SEQUENCE (SIZE (1. .maxNum)) OFEpdcchresource-Identity   Epdcch-Resource-ToAddModList : := SEQUENCE(SIZE (1. .maxNum)) OF Epdcch-Resource   Epdcch-Resource : :=SEQUENCE {  epdcchresource-Identity Epdcchresource-Identity,   . . .   }   --ASN1STOP

SEQUENCE is a structure, Epdcch-Resource::=SEQUENCE indicates a PRB setconfiguration, and Epdcchresource-Identity indicates that a PRB setindex is configured for the PRB set. In addition, maxNum in pseudo code1 is used to limit an upper limit of the number of PRB sets, which maybe predefined or be defined jointly by the network-side device and theUE. In the embodiment of the present invention, M is the number of PRBsets that are actually configured, and its value ranges between 1 andmaxNum, including 1 and maxNum.

Next, each RS configuration of the NRS configurations is defined, suchas pseudo code 2 in the following.

Pseudo Code 2:

 -- ASN1START  --RS configuration  --RS configuration deleting rsconfig-ToReleaseList   RSconfig-ToReleaseList  RS configurationupdating and adding  rsconfig-ToAddModList   RSconfig-ToAddModList RSconfig-ToReleaseList : := SEQUENCE (SIZE (1. .maxNum)) OFRSconfig-Identity  RSconfig-ToAddModList : := SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxNum)) OF RS-config  RS-config : :=SEQUENCE {   rsconfig-IdentityRSconfig-Identity,   crs-Identity CRS-Identity,   csi-rs-Identity CSI-rs-Identity,   zp-csi-Identity  ZP-csi-Identity,   . . .  }  --ASN1STOP

The structure RS-config::=SEQUENCE indicates an independent RSconfiguration information element. Each RS configuration informationelement includes an RS configuration index that can be used to configurecorrespondence with the PRB set. that is, RSconfig-Identity in thepseudo code 2. The RS configuration may further include one or more ofthe following: a CRS configuration index, an NZP CSI-RS configurationindex, a ZP CSI-RS configuration index, a cell identifier, an MBSFNsubframe, a carrier frequency index, and an EPDCCH start time. Animplementation manner of the CRS configuration, the NZP CSI-RSconfiguration, and the ZP CSI-RS configuration includes a specificconfiguration information element, or indicating a correspondingconfiguration information element through an index, which is not limitedin the present invention. maxNum in pseudo code 2 is used to limit anupper limit of the number of RS configurations, which may be predefinedor be defined jointly by the network side and the UE. In the embodimentof the present invention, N is the number of RS configurationinformation elements that are actually configured, and its value rangesbetween 1 and maxNum, including 1 and maxNum.

Each PRB set configuration includes a PRB set index that is used toconfigure correspondence with the RS configuration, that is,Epdcchresource-Identity in the foregoing sequence.

Finally, the M PRB set configurations are associated, in a mannerdescribed in pseudo code 3, with the RS configurations that areindependently defined information elements.

Pseudo Code 3:

 -- ASN1START  --define an association between the PRB set and the RSconfiguration  Epdcch-ToReleaseList : := SEQUENCE (SIZE (1. .maxNum)) OFEpdcchconfig-Identity,  Epdcch-ToAddModList : := SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxNum)) OF Epdcch-config  Epdcch-config : := SEQUENCE {  epdcchconfig-Identity  Epdcchconfig-Identity,  epdcchresource-Identity  Epdcchresource-Identity,   rsconfig-IdentityRSconfig-Identity,   . . .  }  -- ASN1STOP

For example, in pseudo code 3, the structure Epdcch-config::=SEQUENCEindicates a correspondence information element, including the PRB setindex Epdcchresource-Identity shown in pseudo code 1 andRSconfig-Identity shown in pseudo code 2. Therefore, a PRB set index isassociated with an RS configuration index through the correspondenceinformation element. Optionally, when one PRB set corresponds tomultiple RS configurations, another correspondence information elementmay be defined to associate the PRB set index of the PRB set withanother RS configuration index. The embodiment of the present inventionsets no limitation thereto.

If the RS configuration is a logical concept, an implementation mannerof determining the M PRB sets, the N RS configurations, and thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations may beshown as follow.

First, an index of each PRB set of the M PRB sets may be configured inthe manner described in pseudo code 1. Details are not repeated herein.

Next, correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurationsmay be directly determined, as described in pseudo code 4.

Pseudo Code 4:

 -- ASN1START  Epdcch-ToReleaseList : := SEQUENCE (SIZE (1. .maxNum)) OFEpdcchconfig-Identity,  Epdcch-ToAddModList : := SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxNum)) OF Epdcch-config  Epdcch-config : := SEQUENCE {  epdcchconfig-Identity  Epdcchconfig-Identity,  epdcchresource-Identity  Epdcchresource-Identity,   crs-IdentityCRS-Identity,   csi-rs-Identity CSI-rs-Identity,   zp-csi-IdentityZP-csi-Identity,   . . .  }  IMR-config: :=SEQUENCE (SIZE (1. .maxNum))OF IMR-Identity  ...  -- ASN1STOP

Each PRB set index is associated with a complete RS configuration, forexample, CRS-Identity, CSI-rs-Identity, and ZP-csi-Identity in pseudocode 4 together form a logical RS configuration. One PRB set index IDmay correspond to one or more RS configurations. In addition, maxNum inpseudo code 4 is used to limit an upper limit of the number ofcorrespondence between the PRB set and the RS configuration, which maybe predefined or be defined jointly by the network side and the UE.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present invention, thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations mayfurther include one or more of the following: a scrambled ID of theEPDCCH, an EPDCCH start time, and a QCL indication. The QCL indicationmay be correspondence between a DMRS of the EPDCCH and the NZP CSI-RSconfiguration.

Specifically, the EPDCCH start time indicates a start OFDM symbol of anEPDCCH in a subframe. Because the number of symbols occupied by a PDCCHin each subframe may differ with cells or network nodes, and acorresponding EPDCCH start time may also be different, the EPDCCH starttime may be added to the configuration of the correspondence. Inaddition, the EPDCCH start time may be specified by directly specifyingthe start OFDM symbol of the EPDCCH; or, the number of the OFDM symbolsof the PDCCH may be specified first through a PCFICH of a serving cell,and then the start OFDM symbol of the EPDCCH is located behind thePDCCH; or, the EPDCCH start time may also be indicated throughcross-carrier scheduling indication signaling, and in this case, thesignaling includes a carrier index and the EPDCCH start time. Inaddition, the start OFDM symbol of the EPDCCH may also be acquired bythe UE through detection. For example, the UE obtains a cell identifierof a corresponding cell through each RS configuration, and then detectsa PCFICH of the cell, so as to obtain a length of a PDCCH of the cell,that is, obtain the EPDCCH start time of the cell. It should be notedthat when the UE is served by an NCT, because the NCT does not have aPDCCH, the EPDCCH may always start from OFDM symbol 0.

The scrambled ID of the EPDCCH is not limited in the embodiment of thepresent invention, for example, it may be a cell ID or a radio networktemporary identifier (RNTI, Radio Network Temporary Identifier) or avalue in a certain value range, for example, 0 to 503. There may also bemultiple scrambling manners, which are not limited in the presentinvention. For example, when a cell identifier cell ID is adopted forscrambling, the scrambling may be performed by adopting a manner informula (1).

c _(init) =└n _(s)/2┘2⁹ +N _(ID) ^(cell)  (1)

Or, when an RNTI is adopted for scrambling, a scrambling manner informula (2) may be adopted.

c _(init) =└n _(s)/2┘2⁹ +N _(RNTI)  (2)

Or, when a UE-specific value N_(ID) in a certain value range, such as 0to 503, is adopted for scrambling, a scrambling manner in formula (3)may be adopted.

c _(init) =└n _(s)/2┘2⁹ +N _(ID)  (3)

Any combination of the foregoing manners may also be adopted to scramblethe EPDCCH. For example, when both a UE-specific value and an RNTI areadopted for scrambling, a scrambling manner in formula (4) may beadopted.

c _(init)=(└n _(s)/2┘+1)·(2N _(ID)+1)·2¹⁶ +N _(RNTI)  (4)

Optionally, as another embodiment, PRB sets of the M PRB sets mayinclude the same PRB, and when PRBs included in two PRB sets of the MPRB sets are completely the same, the two PRB sets are one PRB set.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCH according toan embodiment of the present invention. The method in FIG. 2 is executedby a UE. The embodiment in FIG. 2 corresponds to the embodiment in FIG.1, and therefore detailed description is properly omitted.

201: Acquire, from a network-side device, M PRB sets used for EPDCCHtransmission, N RS configurations used for EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or EPDCCH resource mapping, and correspondence between the M PREsets and the NRS configurations, where N is a positive integer greaterthan 1, and M is a positive integer.

202: Perform EPDCCH detection on the M PRB sets respectively accordingto each PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RS configuration correspondingto each PRB set.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configures aPRB set and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cellsor network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB set, the RSconfigurations, and the correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the detection includesEPDCCH resource demapping and blind detection.

In step 201, a manner and a sequence for the network-side device toobtain the M PRB sets used for EPDCCH transmission, the N RSconfigurations used for EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or EPDCCH resourcemapping, and the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations are not limited, which may correspond to the notificationmanner and sequence of the network-side device in step 101.

In step 202, when the UE performs the EPDCCH detection on the M PRB setsrespectively, a manner that the detection is stopped once the detectionis successful may be adopted, or a manner that the detection is stoppedafter the detection is completed on all the M PRB sets may also beadopted, which is not limited in the embodiment of the presentinvention.

Optionally, as an embodiment, in step 202, the RS configurationcorresponding to each PRB set of the M PRB sets is configured by thenetwork side, and one PRB set may correspond to one RS configuration,and may also correspond to multiple RS configurations.

Optionally, before step 202, QCL hypothesis may be further performed oneach PRB set of the M PRB sets.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that the M PRB sets correspondto the N RS configurations in a one-to-one manner.

Optionally, as another embodiment, when the QCL hypothesis is performedon each PRB set of the M PRB sets, the QCL hypothesis may be performedaccording to the RS configuration corresponding to each PRB set of the MPRB sets. The QCL hypothesis assumes that an EPDCCH DMRS antenna port isin quasi colocation with a type 1 or type 2 RS configuration in an NZPCSI-RS configuration and a CRS configuration in such aspects as delayextension, Doppler extension, Doppler offset, and average delay.Performing the QCL hypothesis helps to improve time frequency trackingperformance of the UE.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that at least one PRB set ofthe M PRB sets corresponds to at least two RS configurations of the N RSconfigurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the performing QCL hypothesis on eachPRB set of the M PRB sets includes: performing the QCL hypothesisaccording to the RS configuration corresponding to each PRB set of the MPRB sets, or performing the QCL hypothesis according to an RSconfiguration that corresponds to each PRB set of the M PRB sets and isused for the EPDCCH resource demapping, or performing the QCL hypothesisaccording to the RS configuration that corresponds to each PRB set ofthe M PRB sets and is used for the EPDCCH detection.

Optionally, as another embodiment, before step 202, the UE may furtherreceive indication signaling that is sent by the network-side device andis used to indicate the RS configuration corresponding to the at leastone PRB set. In this case, in step 202, when the at least one PRB set isdetected, the UE may perform the EPDCCH detection on the at least onePRB set according to the RS configuration indicated by the firstindication signaling.

Optionally, as another embodiment, in step 202, when the at least onePRB set is detected, the EPDCCH detection is performed on the at leastone PRB set respectively according to at least two RS configurationscorresponding to the at least one PRB set.

Optionally, as another embodiment, each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes one or more of the following: a cell identifier,an RS configuration index, a CRS configuration, an NZP CSIRSconfiguration, a ZP CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, anEPDCCH start time, an MBSFN subframe configuration, and a carrier index.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the N RS configurations correspond toN different serving cells respectively, and the N different servingcells have a same carrier frequency and different cell identifiers.

Optionally, as another embodiment, PRB sets of the M PRB sets mayinclude the same PRB, and when PRBs included in two PRB sets of the MPRB sets are completely the same, the two PRB sets are one PRB set.

The following describes the embodiment of the present invention in moredetail with reference to specific examples. It should be noted thatexamples in FIG. 3 to FIG. 7 are merely intended to help persons skilledin the art understand the embodiment of the present invention, but notintended to limit the embodiment of the present invention to theillustrated specific values or specific scenarios.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

301: A network-side device configures PRB set 1, PRB set 2, RSconfiguration 1, and RS configuration 2 for a UE.

302: The network-side device determines that PRB set 1 corresponds to RSconfiguration 1 and PRB set 2 corresponds to RS configuration 2.

303: The network-side device notifies the UE of the two PRB sets, thetwo RS configurations, and correspondence between them.

304: The network-side device determines that EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or EPDCCH resource mapping is performed by using RS configuration 1.

305: The network-side device performs the EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or the EPDCCH resource mapping on PRB set 1 according to RSconfiguration 1.

306: The UE performs EPDCCH detection on PRB set 1 according to RSconfiguration 1, and on PRB set 2 according to RS configuration 2.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configuresPRB sets and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cellsor network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB set, the RSconfigurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

401: A network-side device configures PRB set 1, PRB set 2, RSconfiguration 1, and RS configuration 2 for a UE.

402: The network-side device determines that PBR set 1 corresponds to RSconfiguration 1 and PRB set 2 corresponds to RS configuration 2.

403: The network-side device notifies the UE of the two PRB sets, thetwo RS configurations, and correspondence between them.

404: The network-side device determines that EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or EPDCCH resource mapping is performed by using RS configuration 1and RS configuration 2.

405: The network-side device performs the EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or the EPDCCH resource mapping on PRB set 1 according to RSconfiguration 1, and on PRB set 2 according to RS configuration 2.

406: The UE performs EPDCCH detection on PRB set 1 according to RSconfiguration 1, and on PRB set 2 according to RS configuration 2.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configure PRBsets and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cells ornetwork nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB sets, the RS configurations,and correspondence between them, so that the UE can select a cell ornetwork node used for EPDCCH reception, thereby improving flexibility ofEPDCCH transmission.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

501: A network-side device configures PRB set 1, RS configuration 1, andRS configuration 2 for a UE.

502: The network-side device determines that PBR set 1 corresponds to RSconfiguration 1 and RS configuration 2.

503: The network-side device notifies the UE of the two PRB sets, thetwo RS configurations, and correspondence between them.

504: The network-side device determines that EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or EPDCCH resource mapping is performed by using RS configuration 1.

505: The network-side device performs the EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or the EPDCCH resource mapping on PRB set 1 according to RSconfiguration 1.

506: The UE performs EPDCCH detection on PRB set 1 respectivelyaccording to RS configuration 1 and RS configuration 2.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configures aPRB set and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cellsor network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB set, the RSconfigurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

601: A network-side device configures PRB set 1, PRB set 2, RSconfiguration 1, and RS configuration 2 for a UE.

602: The network-side device determines that PBR set 1 corresponds to RSconfiguration 1 and RS configuration 2, and PRB set 2 corresponds to RSconfiguration 1.

603: The network-side device notifies the UE of the two PRB sets, thetwo RS configurations, and correspondence between them.

604: The network-side device determines that EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or EPDCCH resource mapping is performed by using RS configuration 1.

605: The network-side device performs the EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or the EPDCCH resource mapping on both PRB set 1 and PRB set 2according to RS configuration 1.

606: The UE performs EPDCCH detection on PRB set 1 according to RSconfiguration 1 and RS configuration 2, and on PRB set 2 according to RSconfiguration 1.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configuresPRB sets and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cellsor network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB sets, the RSconfigurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing an EPDCCHaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

701: A network-side device configures PRB set 1, PRB set 2, RSconfiguration 1, and RS configuration 2 for a UE.

702: The network-side device determines that PBR set 1 corresponds to RSconfiguration 1 and RS configuration 2, and PRB set 2 corresponds to RSconfiguration 1.

703: The network-side device notifies the UE of the two PRB sets, thetwo RS configurations, and correspondence between them.

704: The network-side device determines that EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or the EPDCCH resource mapping is performed on PRB set 1 by using RSconfiguration 2, and on PRB set 2 by using RS configuration 1.

705: The network-side device sends indication signaling, to instruct theUE that the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resource mappingis performed on PRB set 1 by using RS configuration 2.

706: The network-side device performs the EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or the EPDCCH resource mapping on PRB set 1 according to RSconfiguration 2, and on PRB set 2 according to RS configuration 1.

707: The UE performs EPDCCH detection on PRB set 1 according to RSconfiguration 2, and on PRB set 2 according to RS configuration 1.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configuresPRB sets and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cellsor network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB sets, the RSconfigurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a network-side device according to anembodiment of the present invention. A network-side device 800 in FIG. 8includes a notifying unit 801 and a mapping unit 802, and may furtherinclude a determining unit 803 and a sending unit 804.

The notifying unit 801 is configured to notify a UE of M PRB sets usedfor EPDCCH transmission and N RS configurations used for EPDCCH DCI ratematching and/or EPDCCH resource mapping, and notify the UE ofcorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, whereN is a positive integer greater than 1, and M is a positive integer.

The mapping unit 802 is configured to perform the EPDCCH DCI ratematching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping according to thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configuresPRB sets and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cellsor network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB sets, the RSconfigurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

Optionally, the network-side device 800 may further include thedetermining unit 803 and the sending unit 804.

The determining unit 803 is configured to determine at least one RSconfiguration of the N RS configurations, where the mapping unit isspecifically configured to perform the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/orthe EPDCCH resource mapping according to the at least one RSconfiguration and a PRB set corresponding to the at least one RSconfiguration.

The sending unit 804 is configured to send first indication signaling tothe UE, where the first indication signaling is used to indicate a firstRS configuration that corresponds to each PRB set of the at least onePRB set and is used for the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCHresource mapping.

The network-side device in FIG. 8 can implement steps executed by thenetwork-side device in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7. To avoid repetition, no detailsare provided herein.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the mapping unit 802 is specificallyconfigured to perform the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCHresource mapping according to the at least one RS configuration and thePRB set corresponding to the at least one RS configuration.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations may include that the M PRB setscorrespond to the N RS configurations in a one-to-one manner.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that at least one PRB set ofthe M PRB sets corresponds to at least two RS configurations of the N RSconfigurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the N RS configurations correspond toN different cells or network nodes respectively, and the determiningunit 803 selects the at least one RS configuration according to one ormore of channel quality, network load, and spectrum efficiency of the Ndifferent cells or network nodes corresponding to the N RSconfigurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the N RS configurations correspond toN different serving cells respectively, and the N different servingcells have a same carrier frequency and different cell identifiers.

Optionally, as another embodiment, each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes one or more of the following: a cell identifier,an RS configuration index, a CRS configuration, an NZP CSIRSconfiguration, a ZP CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, an MBSFNsubframe configuration, and a carrier frequency index.

Optionally, as another embodiment, when each PRB set of the M PRB setsincludes a PRB set index, and each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes an RS configuration index, the notifying unit801 may send to the UE, second indication signaling which is used toindicate the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations, where the second indication signaling includes an indexidentifier of the M PRB sets and index identifiers of the N RSconfigurations corresponding to the index identifier of the M PRB sets;or when each PRB set of the M PRB sets includes a PRB set index, thenotifying unit 801 may send to the UE, second indication signaling whichis used to indicate the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the NRS configurations, where the second indication signaling includes anindex identifier of the M PRB sets and the NRS configurationscorresponding to the index identifier of the M PRB sets.

Optionally, as another embodiment, PRB sets of the M PRB sets mayinclude the same PRB, and when PRBs included in two PRB sets of the MPRB sets are completely the same, the two PRB sets are one PRB set.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a user equipment according to an embodimentof the present invention. A user equipment 900 in FIG. 9 includes anacquiring unit 901 and a processing unit 902.

The acquiring unit 901 may acquire, from a network-side device, M PRBsets used for EPDCCH transmission, N RS configurations used for EPDCCHDCI rate matching and/or EPDCCH resource mapping, and correspondencebetween the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, where N is apositive integer greater than 1, and M is a positive integer.

The processing unit 902 may perform EPDCCH detection on the M PRB setsrespectively according to each PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RSconfiguration corresponding to each PRB set.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configures aPRB set and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cellsor network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB set, the RSconfigurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

Optionally, the user equipment 900 may further include a receiving unit903. The receiving unit 903 may receive first indication signaling thatis sent by the network-side device and is used to indicate the RSconfiguration corresponding to the at least one PRB set. In this case,the processing unit 902 may perform the EPDCCH detection on a first PRBset according to a first RS configuration when the first PRB set isdetected.

The user equipment in FIG. 9 can implement steps executed by the userequipment in FIG. 2 to FIG. 7. To avoid repetition, no details areprovided herein.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing unit 902 may furtherperform QCL hypothesis on each PRB set of the M PRB sets.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that the M PRB sets correspondto the N RS configurations in a one-to-one manner.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the processing unit 902 may performthe QCL hypothesis according to the RS configuration corresponding toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that at least one PRB set ofthe M PRB sets corresponds to at least two RS configurations of the N RSconfigurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the processing unit 902 may performthe QCL hypothesis according to the RS configuration corresponding toeach PRB set of the M PRB sets, or perform the QCL hypothesis accordingto an RS configuration that corresponds to each PRB set of the M PRBsets and is used for EPDCCH resource demapping, or perform the QCLhypothesis according to an RS configuration that corresponds to each PRBset of the M PRB sets and is used for the EPDCCH detection.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the processing unit 902 may performthe EPDCCH detection on the at least one PRB set respectively accordingto at least two RS configurations corresponding to the at least one PRBset when the at least one PRB set is detected.

Optionally, as another embodiment, each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes one or more of the following: a cell identifier,an RS configuration index, a CRS configuration, an NZP CSIRSconfiguration, a ZP CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, an MBSFNsubframe configuration, and a carrier index.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the N RS configurations correspond toN different serving cells respectively, and the N different servingcells have a same carrier frequency and different cell identifiers.

Optionally, as another embodiment, PRB sets of the M PRB sets mayinclude the same PRB, and when PRBs included in two PRB sets of the MPRB sets are completely the same, the two PRB sets are one PRB set.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a network-side device according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. A network-side device 1000 in FIG.10 includes a sender 1001 and a processor 1002.

The sender 1001 is configured to notify a UE of M PRB sets used forEPDCCH transmission and N RS configurations used for EPDCCH DCI ratematching and/or EPDCCH resource mapping, and notify the UE ofcorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, whereN is a positive integer greater than 1, and M is a positive integer.

The processor 1002 is configured to perform the EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or the EPDCCH resource mapping according to the correspondencebetween the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configures aPRB set and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cellsor network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB set, the RSconfigurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

The processor 1002 is further configured to determine at least one RSconfiguration of the N RS configurations, where the mapping unit isspecifically configured to perform the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/orthe EPDCCH resource mapping according to the at least one RSconfiguration and a PRB set corresponding to the at least one RSconfiguration.

The sender 1001 is further configured to send first indication signalingto the UE, where the first indication signaling is used to indicate afirst RS configuration that corresponds to each PRB set of the at leastone PRB set and is used for the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or theEPDCCH resource mapping.

The network-side device in FIG. 10 can implement steps executed by thenetwork-side device in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7. To avoid repetition, no detailsare provided herein.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processor 1002 may perform the EPDCCHDCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping according to thefirst RS configuration and a PRB set corresponding to the first RSconfiguration.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that the M PRB sets correspondto the N RS configurations in a one-to-one manner.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that at least one PRB set ofthe M PRE sets corresponds to at least two RS configurations of the N RSconfigurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the N RS configurations correspond toN different cells or network nodes respectively, and the processor 1002may select the at least one RS configuration according to one or more ofchannel quality, network load, and spectrum efficiency of the Ndifferent cells or network nodes corresponding to the N RSconfigurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the N RS configurations correspond toN different serving cells respectively, and the N different servingcells have a same carrier frequency and different cell identifiers.

Optionally, as another embodiment, each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes one or more of the following: a cell identifier,an RS configuration index, a CRS configuration, an NZP CSIRSconfiguration, a ZP CSI-RS configuration, an MBSFN subframeconfiguration, and a carrier frequency index.

Optionally, as another embodiment, when each PRB set of the M PRB setsincludes a PRB set index, and each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes an RS configuration index, the sender 1001 maysend to the UE, second indication signaling which is used to indicatethe correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations,where the second indication signaling includes an index identifier ofthe M PRB sets and index identifiers of the N RS configurationscorresponding to the index identifier of the M PRB sets; or when eachPRB set of the M PRB sets includes a PRB set index, the sender 1001 maysend to the UE, second indication signaling which is used to indicatethe correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations,where the second indication signaling includes an index identifier ofthe M PRB sets and the N RS configurations corresponding to the indexidentifier of the M PRB sets.

Optionally, as another embodiment, PRB sets of the M PRB sets mayinclude the same PRB, and when PRBs included in two PRB sets of the MPRB sets are completely the same, the two PRB sets are one PRB set.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a user equipment according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. A user equipment 1100 in FIG. 11includes a receiver 1101 and a processor 1102.

The receiver 1101 is configured to acquire, from a network-side device,M physical resource block PRB sets used for EPDCCH transmission, Nreference signal RS configurations used for EPDCCH DCI rate matchingand/or EPDCCH resource mapping, and correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations, where N is a positive integer greaterthan 1, and M is a positive integer.

The processor 1102 is configured to perform EPDCCH detection on the MPRB sets respectively according to each PRB set of the M PRB sets and anRS configuration corresponding to each PRB set.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a network side configures aPRB set and multiple RS configurations corresponding to different cellsor network nodes, and notifies a UE of the PRB set, the RSconfigurations, and correspondence between them, so that the UE canselect a cell or network node used for EPDCCH reception, therebyimproving flexibility of EPDCCH transmission.

The receiver 1101 is further configured to receive first indicationsignaling that is sent by the network-side device and is used toindicate the RS configuration corresponding to the at least one PRB set,where the processing unit is specifically configured to, when the atleast one PRB set is detected, perform the EPDCCH detection on the atleast one PRB set according to the RS configuration indicated by thefirst indication signaling.

The network-side equipment in FIG. 11 can implement steps executed bythe user equipment in FIG. 2 to FIG. 7. To avoid repetition, no detailsare provided herein.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processor 1102 may further perform QCLhypothesis on each PRB set of the M PRB sets.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that the M PRB sets correspondto the N RS configurations in a one-to-one manner.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the processor 1102 may perform theQCL hypothesis according to the RS configuration corresponding to eachPRB set of the M PRB sets.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations includes that at least one PRB set ofthe M PRB sets corresponds to at least two RS configurations of the N RSconfigurations.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the processor 1102 may perform theQCL hypothesis according to the RS configuration corresponding to eachPRB set of the M PRB sets, or perform the QCL hypothesis according to anRS configuration that corresponds to each PRB set of the M PRB sets andis used for EPDCCH resource demapping, or perform the QCL hypothesisaccording to an RS configuration that corresponds to each PRB set of theM PRB sets and is used for the EPDCCH detection.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the processor 1102 may perform theEPDCCH detection on the at least one PRB set respectively according toat least two RS configurations corresponding to the at least one PRB setwhen the at least one PRB set is detected.

Optionally, as another embodiment, each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations includes one or more of the following: a cell identifier,an RS configuration index, a CRS configuration, an NZP CSIRSconfiguration, a ZP CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, an MBSFNsubframe configuration, and a carrier index.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the N RS configurations correspond toN different serving cells respectively, and the N different servingcells have a same carrier frequency and different cell identifiers.

Optionally, as another embodiment, PRB sets of the M PRB sets mayinclude the same PRB, and when PRBs included in two PRB sets of the MPRB sets are completely the same, the two PRB sets are one PRB set.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may be aware that, in combinationwith the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in thisspecification, units and algorithm steps may be implemented byelectronic hardware, or a combination of computer software andelectronic hardware. Whether these functions are executed by hardware orsoftware depends on particular applications and design constraintconditions of the technical solution. Persons skilled in the art may usedifferent methods to implement the described functions for eachparticular application, but it should not be considered that theimplementation goes beyond the scope of the present invention.

It can be clearly understood by persons skilled in the art that, for thepurpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed workingprocess of the foregoing system, apparatus and unit, reference may bemade to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments,and the details will not be described herein again.

In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should beunderstood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may beimplemented in other manners. For example, the described apparatusembodiments are merely exemplary. For example, the division of the unitsis merely logical function division and may be other division in actualimplementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may becombined or integrated into another system, or some features may beignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutualcouplings or direct couplings or communication connections may beimplemented through some interfaces. The indirect couplings orcommunication connections between the apparatuses or units may beimplemented in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

Units described as separate components may be or may not be physicallyseparated, and parts displayed as units may be or may not be physicalunits, that is, may be located in one position, or may be distributed ona plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selectedto achieve the objective of the solution of the embodiment according toactual needs.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the presentinvention may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of theunits may exist alone physically, or two or more units may also beintegrated into one unit.

When the function is implemented in a form of a software functional unitand sold or used as an independent product, the function may be storedin a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, thetechnical solutions of the present invention essentially, or the partcontributing to the prior art, or all or a part of the technicalsolutions may be implemented in a form of a software product. Thecomputer software product is stored in a storage medium and includesseveral instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be apersonal computer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or apart of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of thepresent invention. The storage medium includes any medium that can storeprogram code, such as a USB flash disk, a removable hard disk, aread-only memory (ROM, Read-Only Memory), a random access memory (RAM,Random Access Memory), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific embodiments of thepresent invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention.Any variation or replacement readily figured out by persons skilled inthe art within the technical scope disclosed in the present inventionshall fall within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, theprotection scope of the present invention shall be subject to theprotection scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for processing an enhanced physicaldownlink control channel (EPDCCH), the method comprising: notifying auser equipment (UE) of M physical resource block (PRB) sets used forEPDCCH transmission and N reference signal (RS) configurations used forEPDCCH downlink control information (DCI) rate matching and/or EPDCCHresource mapping, and notifying the UE of correspondence between the MPRB sets and the N RS configurations, wherein N is a positive integergreater than 1, and M is a positive integer; and performing the EPDCCHDCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping according to thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein performing the EPDCCH DCI ratematching and/or the EPDCCH resource mapping according to thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurationscomprises: determining at least one RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations; and performing the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or theEPDCCH resource mapping according to the at least one RS configurationand a PRB set corresponding to the at least one RS configuration.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1 wherein the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations comprises that the M PRB setscorrespond to the N RS configurations in a one-to-one manner.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations comprises one or more of the following: a cellidentifier, an RS configuration index, a cell specific reference signal(CRS) configuration, a non-zero power channel state informationreference signal (NZP CSI-RS) configuration, a zero power (ZP) CSI-RSconfiguration, an EPDCCH start time, a multimedia broadcast multicastservice single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configuration, and acarrier frequency index.
 5. The method according to claim 1, whereinnotifying the UE of the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the NRS configurations comprises: when each PRB set of the M PRB setscomprises a PRB set index, and each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations comprises an RS configuration index, sending to the UE,second indication signaling which is used to indicate the correspondencebetween the M PRB sets and the N RS configurations, wherein the secondindication signaling comprises the PRB set index of each PRB set of theM PRB sets and an RS configuration index corresponding to the PRB setindex of each PRB set of the M PRB sets; or when each PRB set of the MPRB sets comprises a PRB set index, sending to the UE, second indicationsignaling which is used to indicate the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations, wherein the second indicationsignaling comprises the PRB set index of each PRB set of the M PRB setsand an RS configuration corresponding to the PRB set index of each PRBset of the M PRB sets.
 6. A method for processing an enhanced physicaldownlink control channel (EPDCCH), the method comprising: acquiring,from a network-side device, M physical resource block (PRB) sets usedfor EPDCCH transmission, N reference signal (RS) configurations used forEPDCCH downlink control information (DCI) rate matching and/or EPDCCHresource mapping, and correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1, and M isa positive integer; and performing EPDCCH detection on the M PRB setsrespectively according to each PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RSconfiguration corresponding to each PRB set.
 7. The method according toclaim 6, wherein before performing EPDCCH detection on the M PRB setsrespectively according to each PRB set of the M PRB sets and an RSconfiguration corresponding to each PRB set, the method furthercomprises: performing quasi colocation (QCL) hypothesis on each PRB setof the M PRB sets.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurationscomprises that the M PRB sets correspond to the N RS configurations in aone-to-one manner.
 9. The method according to claim 7, whereinperforming QCL hypothesis on each PRB set of the M PRB sets comprises:performing the QCL hypothesis according to the RS configurationcorresponding to each PRB set of the M PRB sets.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations comprises one or more of the following: a cellidentifier, an RS configuration index, a cell specific reference signal(CRS) configuration, a non-zero power channel state informationreference signal (NZP CSIRS) configuration, a zero power (ZP) CSI-RSconfiguration, an EPDCCH start time, a multimedia broadcast multicastservice single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configuration, and acarrier index.
 11. A network-side device, comprising: a notifying unit,configured to notify a user equipment (UE) of M physical resource block(PRB) sets used for enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH)transmission and N reference signal (RS) configurations used for EPDCCHdownlink control information (DCI) rate matching and/or EPDCCH resourcemapping, and notify the UE of correspondence between the M PRB sets andthe N RS configurations, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1,and M is a positive integer; and a mapping unit, configured to performthe EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or the EPDCCH resource mappingaccording to the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations.
 12. The network-side device according to claim 11,further comprising: a determining unit, configured to determine at leastone RS configuration of the N RS configurations, wherein the mappingunit is configured to perform the EPDCCH DCI rate matching and/or theEPDCCH resource mapping according to the at least one RS configurationand a PRB set corresponding to the at least one RS configuration. 13.The network-side device according to claim 11, wherein thecorrespondence between the M PRB sets and the N RS configurationscomprises that the M PRB sets correspond to the N RS configurations in aone-to-one manner.
 14. The network-side device according to claim 11,wherein each RS configuration of the N RS configurations comprises oneor more of the following: a cell identifier, an RS configuration index,a cell specific reference signal (CRS) configuration, a non-zero powerchannel state information reference signal (NZP CSIRS) configuration, azero-power (ZP) CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, a multimediabroadcast multicast service single frequency network (MBSFN) subframeconfiguration, and a carrier frequency index.
 15. The network-sidedevice according to claim 11, wherein: when each PRB set of the M PRBsets comprises a PRB set index, and each RS configuration of the N RSconfigurations comprises an RS configuration index, the notifying unitis configured to send to the UE, second indication signaling which isused to indicate the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations, wherein the second indication signaling comprises anindex identifier of the M PRB sets and index identifiers of the N RSconfigurations corresponding to the index identifier of the M PRB sets;or when each PRB set of the M PRB sets comprises a PRB set index, thenotifying unit is configured to send to the UE, second indicationsignaling which is used to indicate the correspondence between the M PRBsets and the N RS configurations, wherein the second indicationsignaling comprises an index identifier of the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations corresponding to the index identifier of the M PRB sets.16. A user equipment, comprising: an acquiring unit, configured toacquire, from a network-side device, M physical resource block (PRB)sets used for enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH)transmission, N reference signal (RS) configurations used for EPDCCHdownlink control information (DCI) rate matching and/or EPDCCH resourcemapping, and correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1, and M isa positive integer; and a processing unit, configured to perform EPDCCHdetection on the M PRB sets respectively according to each PRB set ofthe M PRB sets and an RS configuration corresponding to each PRB set.17. The user equipment according to claim 16, wherein the processingunit is further configured to perform quasi colocation (QCL) hypothesison each PRB set of the M PRB sets.
 18. The user equipment according toclaim 16, wherein the correspondence between the M PRB sets and the N RSconfigurations comprises that the M PRB sets correspond to the N RSconfigurations in a one-to-one manner.
 19. The user equipment accordingto claim 17, wherein the processing unit is configured to perform QCLhypothesis according to an RS configuration corresponding to each PRBset of the M PRB sets.
 20. The user equipment according to claim 16,wherein each RS configuration of the N RS configurations comprises oneor more of the following: a cell identifier, an RS configuration index,a cell specific reference signal (CRS) configuration, a non-zero powerchannel state information reference signal (NZP CSIRS) configuration, azero-power (ZP) CSI-RS configuration, an EPDCCH start time, a multimediabroadcast multicast service single frequency network (MBSFN) subframeconfiguration, and a carrier index.